Machine for making outer casings for double-tube tires.



No. 762,561. PATENIED JUNE 14, 1904. F. A. SEIBERLING 6; W. G. STEVENS.MACHINE FOR MAKING OUTER OASINGS FOR DOUBLE TUBE TIRES.

APPLIOATIOI! FILED 210v. as. 1903.

MODE! 5 anus-sum 1.

2:". 762,561. PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904. I. A. SBIBERLING & W. o. STEVENS.

MAGHINE FOR MAKING OUTER GASINGS FOR DOUBLE TUBE TIRES.

APPLICATION mum M0128. 1903.

we menu. 5 snnma-snnm z.

No. 762,561. PATBNTED JUNE14, 1904. F. A. SEIBERLING & W. (1. STEVENS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING OUTER GASINGS FOR DOUBLE TUBE TIRES.

urmouxou rum) m 128.1903

N0 MODEL. 4 5 sums-sum a.

ATTOHNE Y No. 762,561. PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904. F. A. SEIBERLING & W. C.STEVENS. MACHINE FOR MAKING OUTER GASINGS FOR DOUBLE TUBE TIRES.

AIPLIUATION FILED NOV 28. 1903.

5 BHEETSSHEBT 4 N0 MODEL.

A TTORNEY PATENTBD JUNE 14, 1904.

F. A. SEIBBRLING dz W. O. STEVENS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING OUTER GASINGS FOR DOUBLE TUBE TIRES.

uyuoa'uon nun IOV. as. 1003.

N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Thine m FRANK A. SElBFliLlNG AND WlLLlA C. STEVENS, OF AKRON, (ll-H0.

MAG-NE FOR MAKING OUTEW ChSlliGS FOR DOUBLE-TUBE TIRES.

a r ICATIQ forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,561, dated June Mi, r

1'!) (all whom, it may concern.-

. Be it known that we, Fauna A. Sumnnmne and WILLIAM C. Srnvnns,citizens of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county ofSummit and State of Ohio. have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Machines for Making Outer Casings tor uble-Tube Tires, ofwhich the following is a complete specification.

This 'invcntion relates to machines for producing the outer tubes orshells of endless pneumatic tires, and is especially adapted tomanufacturing comparatively heavy shells, such as are for automobilesand heavy work. l

The objects of this invention are to produce a machine by which theouter shells of heavy double-tube pneumatic tires may be rapidly andeflieiently manufactured and to provide this machine with simultaneouseoacting mechanism by which the suive layers of fabric of which-theouter shell is com may be laid and placed one upon another with greatspeed and accuracy and wherein the customary wrinklm and other roughnessincident to the manufacture of these shells by hand are eliminated.

. it is further an object of this invention to provide the mechanismhereinbefore referred to with suitable controllinggrneans wherebydifierent sizes of outer she] may be manulectured with such rapidity andregularity as has been heretofore unattainable.

. To the accomplishment of the aforesaid ob-' this invention consists inthe peculiar 'nd novel construction, arrangement, and

' elevation of the entire machine; Fig. 2, a plan communicated to thecore on which the shell is built up; Fig. 6, adetail of areeiprocatingor smoothing device for smoothing the wrinkles out along the sides ofthe shell while being constructed; Fig. 7, a section at the line or ofFig. 6; and Fig. 8, a sectional view of the outer shell of a pneumatictire, showing one of the forms of tire which this machine is capable ofmanufacturing.

in the drawings, 1 2 are the upright sides of a frame on which themechanism hereinafter to be described is moun.' 0n the upright 2, whichmay be round or angular, as pre ferred, is a carriage 3, from whichprojects at right angles a shaft t, on which is a hub 5, capableof readyrevolution on the shaft 4. From this hub 5 project spokes 6, a portionof which are provided with clips 7 for a purpose to be stated. The outerends of'all these spokes are provided with a flange on one side whichserves to hold the innerside of a circular mandrel or core on which theouter shell of the pneumatic tire is built up. This core is preferablyhollow for lightness and has .the same exterior and conformation that itis desired impart to the interior of the finished shell. The inner orbase portion of this core 8 is held on the'ends of the spokes d on oneside by flanges referred to and on the other side by the clips 7, whichare capable of being readily removed when desired.

From the lower end of the carriage 3 depends a threaded rotatable shaft9, the lower end of which i through the central portion of a threadedmiter-r l0, whiclrserves as a out for said shaft and is supported byresting on a bracket 11, bolted to the upright 2. This bracket 11 hasalso an upright arm 12, through which passes a shaft hearing at one enda miter-gear 1H and at its opposite end a crank-arm 14, by which therotation of both miters and the ascent and descent of the carriage 3 isattained.

The revolution of the core 8 on the shaft 4.

it scares spool or roller-17, the central portion of which is concaveand made of some suitable substance, such as vulcanized rubber coveredwith canvas, and the sides or ends of this spool 17 arecomposed of disksof heavy sole-leather 18. On the rear portion of the shaft 16 andcapable of longitudinal motion thereon is a friction-wheel 19 providedwith a hub 20, both of which, together with the shaft 16, being splinedto receive a key to compel the simultaneous revolution of saidfriction-wheel 19 with said shaft 16., A lever 21 is used to change thelongitudinal position of this friction wheel 19 on the shaft 16. It isobvious from the foregoing description that if the elevating-screw 9 isoperated to raise the carriage 3 suiiicientiy to cause a snug engagementbetween the roller 17 and the core 8 the revolution of thefriction-wheel 19 will rotate the core 8.

In order torotate the friction-wheel 19, the following mechanism isemployed: At right angles to the shaft 16 andmounted in bracketc 22 onthe frame 1 and on a bracket 23,

mounted on across-bar 24, extendin between 5- the uprights 1 and 2, is ashaft 25, ing a pulley 26, which is designed to receive power mm a beltdriven by any suitable or preferred source, the nature of which it isnot essential to give in this description.

On the end of the shaft 25 adjacent to the friction-wheel 19 is a flatfriction-disk 27 arranged to revolve with the shaft 25 and to be forcedagainst and withdrawn fr n on meat with the friction-wheel 19 andtethereby cause the rotation of the shaft 16'.

The shaft 25 is wpable of longitudinal movement in its bearings and isactuated toward andaway from the shaft 16 by the following means: 4 Onthe outer end of the shaft 25 is a cap 28, arranged to slip over the endof the shaft 25 and provided with a set-screw 29, arranged to enter agroove in the shaft 25 near its end, and thereby be retained thereon. inthe on posite end of the cap 28 is pivoted, by means of a bolt 80, oneend of a bell-crank ever 31., arranged to fulcrum on a bolt 32, passingthree a bracket 33, attached to the upright 1. T e lower end of thisbell-crank is in wardly turned and is attached to alongitudinally-extensible rod 34, to the lower end of which is attacheda pedal 25, mounted on pivoted arms 86 and normally kept upward by aspring 37.

From the foregoing. description it will be seen that if the pedal isdepressed the shaft 25 will be inwardly moved, causin the engagement ofthe friction-disk 27 an the friction-wheel 19. In order to im rt adesired tension or stretch to the rub r-saturated fabric which is tocompose the main portion of the shell or outer tube of the pneumatictire, we provide the following mechanism: On the upright 1 5 is abracket 38, held in place by a bolt 89,

ing through a slot in the bracket to permit the vertical adjustmentthereof; The rear upper portion of this bracket is bifurcated, leavingtwo upwardly-extending arms 40, across whichextends a bolt 41, on whichis pivoted one end of a shaft 42, bearing a loose roller 43. Overtherear portion of this roller passes a friction-baud 44, capable of beingtightened to a desired degree by thumbnuts 45, so that a desired amountof resistance to-its rotation may beimparted to this roller. Immediatelybelow this roller 43 is a similar roller 46, but the shaft of which isrigid and is mounted between the back face of the bracket and anupwardly-turned portion 47, between which the roller rotates; On thefront end of the shaft42, bearing the roller 43, is a boss 48, on eitherside of the lower ends of which are straps 49, which have mountedbetween their lower ends a handle 50, havinga cam-shaped head arrangedto engage a boss 51 on the upright portion 47, the boss 51 beingprovided on its under surface with a suitable configuration to lit thecam-head of the handle 50.

The object of this arrangement is this. When it is desired to feedfabric to the core, the cam-handle 50 is released from engagement withthe boss 51 and the upper roller 43tilted upward on its pivot 41,permitting the insertion of a piece of fabric between the two rollers.Then the upper roller is lowered and compressed tightly against thelower roller by means of the mechanism just described. Sufficientpressure is then placed on the upper roller by means of thefriction-band 44 to give a desired amount of resistance to the retationof the rollers and the pee of fabric therebetween. From between theserollers the fabric is carried upward onto the core and at: under theroller 17, which smooths its upper surface, and partly down the sides ofthe core, this last feature being attained by two rollers 52, mounted onyoke-arms 53, pivoted' to the upper portion of the bracket 23 and drawntoward each other by an inwardlycontracting spring 54. These rollc rs 52have their axes radial to the center of the roller 17 and are arrangedto press on the outer sides of the roller 17, which, as has beenheretofore described, are made of sole-leather. The combined action ofthe roller 17 and the side rollers 52 serves to smooth the fabric downover the upper portion of the core and to a considerable distancedownward therefrom. The mechanism by which the tire is smoothed fromthis point to the end of its rounded portion is as follows, referencebeing had to Figs. 1, 6, and 7. and may be described primarily as areciprocatingpair of fingers which slide up and down along the sides ofthe fabric on the coreand smooth out the wrinkles with such rapidity ofmotion as tocover all portions of the fabric on the sides of the coreduring its revolution. Mounted on one tion of the bracket 28 is a smallhousing consisting of a base and two uprights 55, mounted in which is ashaft 56, capable of rotating therein. In the central portion of thisshaft between the uprights 55 is a loose and a tight pulley 57 and 58,over which passes a belt 59 from a pulley 60 on the shaft 25. Theposition of this belt with reference to the two pulleys 57 and 58 isdetermined by a.beltshifter 61, held normally in a position to retainthe belt on the loose pulley 57 by a spring 62, which may be shifted bymeans of a bellcranklever 63, pivoted on a bracket 64 on the cross-bar24. To the opposite end of this bell-crank 63 is attached alongitudinallyextensible rod 65, to the lower end of which is attached apedal 66, normally kept raised by a spring 118, so that by depressingthe pedal 66 the bell-crank lever 63 willthrow the belt-shifter 61 toone side and shift the belt from the pulley 57. 0n the outer-end of theshaft 56 is a crank 67, to the wristpin of which is attached aconnecting-rod 68, whose upper end is pivotally connected to a lever 69,pivoted on a bolt 70. passing'through a post 71, rising from the housing15, which sustains the shaft 16. This lever 69 is bifurcatcd except atthe .point where it passes through the eye of the connecting-rod 68.Also mounted on the bolt 70 is a lever 7 2, like wise bifurcated itsentire length and having extending between its ends a shaft, (not shownbutindicateddwhich standsimmediatelyabove the lever 69. A similar shaftis mounted and pivoted between the sides of the lever 69,and anadjusting-screw 73 extends between these two shafts and is controlled atits lower end by acrank-arm'74, so that the angle between the levers 69and 72 may be changed at will and thus the extent of the rocking of thelong end of the lever 7 2 may be accuratel determined.

(in the lower free rocking en of the bifurcated lever 70 is placed themechanism by which the sides of the fabric are smoothed around the core,and the mechanism is best illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. Between the endsof this lever 72 and attached thereto are short arms 75, which arefastened to opposite sides of a head-block 76, which is verticallyperforated and arranged to slide upward and downwardly on a guide-rod77, held firmlyin position by a bent arm 78, bolted to any desired orpreferred portion of the frame of the machine. 0n the upright guide-rod77, below the place occupied by the supporting-arm 7 8, is a cross-bar 79, to the outer ends of which are fastened by screws or otherwise guides80. These guides are provided on their outer faces with verticaldovetailed recesses into which fit vcrtically-reciprocatingfulcrumhlocks 81, which are connected by an arch 82, extending betweenthem and inelosing the guide-rod 77. At the lower end of the headblock76 is a cross-bar 83, to the outer ends of which are pivoted bent lovers84, which depend therefrom and have their lower ends piv-' oted to theouter ends of shaping or smoothing fingers 85, the pivots of which arebolts in the fulcrum-blocks 81.- The lower ends of these fingers 85 arenicely and smoothly rounded and are arranged to slide along the surfaceof the fabric and to compel the fabric to follow the contour of the core8. On either side of the guide-blocks 80 are spring-plates 86. arrangedto be retained and adjusted in place by screws and to press against thefulcrum-blocks 81 with a pressure to be determined by the work requiredof the fingers 85. The necessity for these spring-plates orfriction-plates '86 is this, that as the head-block 76 rises and falls,carrying with it the cross-bar 83, bent levers 84;, and fingers 85, thefulcrum-blocks. which bear the pivots forthe'fingers 85,would have aconstant tendency to fall of their own weight. and obviously asrapidlyas the fingers descend, and the fingers would exert no pressureon the fabric at their working ends; but by retarding thedescent of thefulcrum-blocks 81 a considerable pressure is required on the outer endsof the fingers 85 to compel their descent, thereby forcing inward withconsiderably grcater force the working or smoothing ends of thesefingers. Experience has shown that these fingers work upward anddownward with great rapidity. so much so as to cover every portion oftin sides of the fabric and smooth out all wrinkles, both great andsmall. which existor occur in the bending of the fabric around the core.After passing this smoothing device the fabric must then be tucked intoa crease which exists near the lower end of the core and forced therewith considerable. pressure to cause it to adhere until it is desired toremove the finished shell from the core. This creasing of the fabric inthe manufacture of tires is known to the trade as stitch ing. Themechanism forstitching by forcin; the fabric into this crease ordepression is fin follows and is shown in Figs. 1 and t: From a suitablepart of the frame of the machine extends a supporting-arm 87, the shapeand configuration of which and its adjustment to the frame being ofsecondary censor] uence in the construction of this device. At its outeror free end it is provided with a bolt 88. which forms a pivot for abifurcated arm 89, between the sides of which are pivoted two curvedarms 90, the lower ends of which are inturned and are provided withsharp-edged rollers 91. At the upper ends of these arms are attachedlinks 92, arranged to cross each other and be pivotally fastened to alever 93, provided at one end with a handle for the grasp of theoperator and at the other end piv ted to a link 94, which in turn ispivoted to t 1e bifurcated arm 89. This device is only used at intervalsin the placing of the fabric on the core, and hence when not in use maybe raised by simply raising the handle,

which swings apart the lower ends of the.

arnts 91, releasing them from engagement with the fabric, and the wholedevice swings upward on the pivot-bait 88 out of the way of the othermechanism of the machine.

In the construction of outer shells for heavy pneumatic tires it iscustomary to use a beading as a basis for forming a barb or graspingprojecting on the lower portions of the shell to permit the inturned orclenching edges of the metallic tire of the vehicle to hook into,.andthis beading usually is made in a continuous strip with a hardsoft-rubber core.

By thisis meant a rubber of such 'hardness.

as to be nearly as hard as what is known as hard rubber, but still toretain suflicient inherent elasticity and flexibility as to permit itsbeing bent and curved without cracking or breaking. This core is thensurrounded by one or more layers of rubber-saturated fabric and placedagainst the sides of the fabri on the core.- It is then covered byrepeated layers of fabric and the whole united during vulcanization. Inorder to place this beading upon the sides of the fabric, which we willsuppose to have been already place upon the core, the followingmechanism is used: On the side of the carriage 3 which sustains the coreis a boss 95, into which is inserted and held by any preferred means ashaft 96. (See Figs. 1. 2, and 3.) This shaft 96 is designed to form anangle with the upright 2 of about sixty-three degrees and should beradial to the center of the shaft 4. On this shaft 96 is a slidablecarriage 97, spliced thereto. The retention of the carriage 97 on theshaft 96 at a desired point is obtained by means of a screw 98, operatedby a hand-wheel 99. Projecting at right angles to the shaft 96 from thecarri 97 is a splined shaft 100, on which are mounted hubs 101 of longsleeve-like been ings 102,through which extend shafts. (Not shown, butindicated by dotted lines.) On the front ends of these shafts, inclosedin the sleeves 102, are fastened eccentric heads 103,

and mounted on these heads 103 eccentric to the center of the shafts inthe'eieeves 102 are rollers 104, having the configuration of the outsideof the ing to be placed on the shell in its construction. Between'thehub 101 on the shaft 100 is another hub 105, which has depending fromits rear face an arm to the lower end of which is pivoted on asubstantially horizontal pin an elongated rocking plate 106, to which isattached a handle 107, by which it is rocked. From the face of thisrocking plate 106 project two rotatable pins 108, for a purpose to bedescribed. On the rear ends of the shafts inclosed in the sleeves 102are depending crank-arms 109, and each has'projecting from its lower endrotatable pins 110. The pins 110 and 108 are connected byadjustingccrews 111, having on their outer ends milled heads by whichthey may be rotated. These adjusting-screws 111,

pass freely through the pins 110 and mesh into the pins 106, so that byrevolving them .drical portion of the fabric-covered core.

veaeei the relative positions of the twe crank-arms 109 to each othermay be determined, which also determines the position of the groovedrollers 104 with reference to the core 8. Surrounding theadjusting-screws 111 are springs 112 to keep the crank-arms 109 normallythrown apart. Depending from the under faces of the sleeves 102 arebrackets 113, having perforated heads, through the perforation of whichthe beading to be affixed to the tire is fed, thereby accurately feedingit into position, and as this perforation is a close fit for the beadingit serves to prevent it from dropping to the floor when the headingmechanism is removed from operative connection with the core. On each ofthe hubs 101 and 105 are set-screws by which their positions may befixed when determined. On the shaft 96 I customarily place a collar 114,held in a desired position by a set-screw or other preferred means witha view to regulating the position of thev carriage 97 definitely andquickly when desired. Of course it is obvious that for different sizesof tires the position of the collar 114 will be varied to meet therequirements of the case. The operation of this bead-placing mechanismis as follows: Assuming that suflicient fabric has been placed on thecore and the shell is in a proper condition to receive the beading andthe parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, with strips of indefinitelength of beading in the guides 113, the screw 98, retaining the Mrriage97 in place, is released and the carriage pushed forward toward the coreuntil it encounters the collar 114. In doing this it is necessary toswing apart the rollers 104;, so that they will "pass around the maincyliAis soon as the carriage 97 encounters the sleeve 114 the screw 9 iis tightened and the handle 107 thrown to the position shown in Fig. 3,thereby pressing the rollers against the sides of the fabric at theproper place where it is desired to place the beading. The beading isthen pushed upward and placed between the rollers 104 and the fabric onthe core and the pedal 35 depressed, throwing the friction-disk 27against the friction-wheel 19, causing the revolution of the core, andas it it revolves the bead on both sides of the core is fed onto thefabric and compressed there by the force of the rollers 104 until acomplete revolution of the core has taken place, at which time theheading is severed from the continuous strip, the ends of the headingare nicely matched, the handle 107 swung a quarter of a revolution,throwing the rollers 104 away from the core, the screw 98 released, andthe carriage 97, with its accompanying mechanism, swung out of the way,after which the placing of fabric on the partially-constructed tire iscontinued.

In Fig. 8 is shown one form of an outer shell which may be constructedon this mawhich are to be madethereon. Thefirststrip of fabric 15 is ofsufiicient width 'so'that when fed onto the corethe lower edgesafterbeing creased by the creasing-wheels 91 will lie on the fiat portionof'the core throughout'the entire circuit thereof'and of suflicientlength to Overlap a distance necessary 'to insure a perfect unionbetween the two ends thereof. Next it is customary to place on the firstfab-- ric 115 a second layer 1-16, with the grain or warp thereofcrossing the warp of the first layer, whose width is such as to justenter the crease between the outer portion of the core and the flatportion. After this beading is placed in position, as just described,then the lower edges of the first strip of fabric 115 are folded uparound the heading and pressed against the inclined sides of the secondstrip of fabric 116 and caused to adhere thereto by the sticky nature ofwhich it is composed. Then a third strip of fabric 117, of such a widthas to extend down to'the intersection of the beading with the shell, isplaced on said second strip 116, and thereby covers the refiected endsof the first strip. Any preferred or desirable number of strips may beplaced thereon, following this operation until the shell has acquired adesired thickness. Over thisis placed a coating of rubber with a thickcned portion on what will be the tread portion.

The core is removed from the spokes 6 by releasing the clips 7 and istaken to the vulcanizer and after being inclosed in a mold is properlyvulcanized, after which the shell is stri ped from the core by hand,this being casi y accomplished by reason of the elasticity of the shell.The core is then returned tothe machine and the process repeated.

What weclaim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in a machine of the class specified of a. tensiondevice to simultaneously smooth and flatten strips oftabric, a revolublecore to receive said strips from said device, means to form said stripsapproximately lonitudinally about said core and means to regulate thetension on said feeding device.

2. A machine of the class specified consisting of revoluble means tosupport the article to be built while in the pr oi manufacture and meansfor creasing or stitching portions of said article on said revolublemeans.

3. A machine of the class specified involving revoluble means to sustainthe article to be made during the construction and means for placingsimultaneously suitable strips of heading on both sides of said articlewhile on said rcvolublc means.

' 4. A machine of the class specified consisting of revoluble means tosustain the article while in construction, means to regulate the tensionof the various parts of the article while being fed :ontosaid rcvolublemeans,

means to smooth various portion of s'iid'article," meansto creaseorstitch said article and in eans to place strips o fqbeading on saidarti- ;cle while mountedon said revoluhle means.

5, 1A machine of the class specified involvrevoluble meansfol-sustaining the article underconstruction, mrans to revolve saidsusytai'ning means; said last-named means being arranged to smoothcertain portions of said article. i r

. "6. The combination in adevicc of theclass sDeQified of arcvoluble'corc tosustain'the article'under construction, and afriction-roller 0 adapted to'transmit motion a to said core andsimultaneously smooth a certain portion of the article during saidrevolution.

7. The combination in adevice of the class specified of a rcvoluble coreto sustain the article while under construction. frictional means tobear on the article and revolve said core, means to feed material tosaid core, devices for smoothing material while on said core, and meansto regulate the position of said revolving core with relation to saidsmoothing mechanism.

8. The combination in a device of the class specified of a revolublecore to sustain thearticle during construction, a carriage adapted toslide toward and away from said core, suitable mechanism mounted on saidcarriage to place suitable heading on the side of said article duringconstruction of said article.

9. The combination in a device of the class specified, of a rcvolublecore to sustain the article while under construction, of reciprocatingmechanism involving fingers to press and smooth the sides of saidarticle while sustained on said revolving means.

10. The combination in a device of the class specified of a revolublemeans to sustain the article while being constructed, of reciproeatingmeans involvin smoothing-fingers to work substantially radially to saidsupporting means and smooth the sides of said article while on saidrevoluble means, and means to regulate the stroke of said reciprocatingmeans as desired.

11. The combination in adevice of the class specified of a revolublecore to sustain the article while under construction, a roller to smooththe outer portion of the article. while on said revolving means, saidroller being provided with flexible sides, spring-pressed rollers tobear on said flexible sides to smooth a portion of the sides of saidarticle during its revolution.

12. The combination in a machine of the class designated of a revolublecore to sustain the article while being constructed, a slidable carriagearranged to move toward and away from said core, shafts mounted in saidcarriage bearing eccentrically-pivoted rollers capable of placing a tingon the sides of said IlO article, and means to rock said shafts andthrow said rollers toward and away from the article while on saidrevolving means.

13. The combination in a machine of the class designated of a revolublecore to sustain the article while being constructed. a slidable carriagearranged to move toward and away from said core, shafts mounted in saidcarriage bearing eccentrically-pivoted rollers capable of placing abeading on the sides of said article, means to rock said shaft and throwsaid rollers toward and away from the article while on said revolvingmeans, and guides to direct and sustain strips of heading fed to saidrollers.

14. The combination in a machine of the class designated of a revolublecore to sustain the article while under construction, a frame capable ofbeing swung toward and away from said article, inwardly-movable arms onsaid frame, creasing-rollers on said arms and mechanism to force saidcreasing-rollers against a desired portion of said article while beingconstructed.

- In testimony that we claim the above we hereunto set our hands in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK A. SEIBERLING. WILLIAM C. STEVENS. 'In presence of- C. E. BINGHAM,Geo. W. Rooms.

